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A nurse above all else
Wollongong University vice chancellor Patricia Davidson . Photo : Supplied
Wollongong University ’ s VC reflects on her diverse career .
By Elise Hartevelt
The Honorary Fellowship Award handed down by Australia ’ s largest nursing union , the Royal College of Nursing , went to Professor Patricia Davidson this year , recognising her distinguished career as a nurse , researcher and educator .
Having co-authored over 500 journal articles and as vice-chancellor at the University of Wollongong , she ’ s deeply committed to educating the next generation of nurses .
“ I am fortunate to have had a far-reaching and varied career , which is a testament to the versatility that nursing can offer , but above all , I am a nurse ,” she told Campus Review .
With a career spanning over 40 years , Patricia ’ s passion for nursing has been driven by wanting to make a difference .
“ Any award that comes from your peers is of value , because as you know , your peers are often your greatest allies but can also be your greatest critics .”
CR : Tell us why you became a nurse ? PD : I think I was really inspired by the thought of making a difference . I loved taking care of people . I loved the teamwork among my colleagues . I loved the scientific puzzle of making a diagnosis , and also I had a huge sense of achievement just from making someone comfortable .
From my very first days in nursing school , I knew this was going to be my career for life .
Why did you choose cardiac nursing and transitional care among your specialties ? I started working in coronary care and critical care in the late ‘ 70s , early ‘ 80s . Can you believe in coronary care units at that stage , they would say , ‘ That person ’ s 60 years of age , do they qualify for admission ?’ So it was a very different time in the world where acute myocardial infarction stroke and metastatic cancer were life sentences .
But now , because of innovation and advances in science , people live longer . Many of the patients that I ’ ve treated with acute myocardial infarction of course went on to have heart failure , and heart failure became my area of expertise .
Heart failure is a complex syndrome and much of it is managed in the community . I can remember doing my first home visits as a critical care nurse , and that was a big transition for me but I loved it .
I think when you work in an acute care hospital , in some ways you ’ re insulated from what happens in the community . But going into people ’ s homes , really seeing the reality of social determinants of health made me a stronger advocate for that , and of course , for women who in many communities don ’ t have power , but even within our advanced healthcare systems , women are treated differently .
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